Wall mounted vertically adjustable desk



July 10, 1962 c. EAMES ETAL 3,043,640

WALL MOUNTED VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE DESK Filed Feb. 4, 1960 Illl llllllllf INVENTORS CHAPL E5 54 M55 DON AL B/A/SOA/ PETER I PEARCE ATTORNEYS I r WI WW. I

Unite States Patent 3,043,640 WALL MOUNTED VEPETSICALLY ADJUSTABLE D K Charles Eames, Venice, Don Albinson, Culver City, and

Peter J. Pearce, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Herman Miller, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 6,678 5 Claims. (Cl. 311-20) This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a suspended desk adapted to quick adjustment between two operating heights. I

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application entitled Storage, Serial No. 952,589, filed November 6, 1959', of which the inventors are Charles Eames and Don Albinson.

Desks having adjustable height tops have been known for a number of years. This invention, however, constitutes an improvement over the constructions previously employed for this purpose. It provides a desk having no supporting structure touching the floor, thus leaving the floor free so that it may be easily and quickly cleaned. -'It also eliminates the possibility of indentations or other mars being created on the floor by the presence of conventional furniture legs over a substantial period of time. This is particularly advantageous when floor coverings such as linoleum and deep carpeting are used.

This invention provides a particularly sturdy desk even though it is quickly adjustable from one height to another. The adjustability is accomplished without the use of special latches or fasteners. Further, the desk is stable in either position without the necessity of latches to secure it. This is important because the latches are often forgotten when conventional desks are adjusted which can result in failure of the desk and perhaps the dropping of expensive equipment such as a typewriter. Furthermore, the desk and its operating mechanism are designed to be a single, compact package, quickly mounted in a selected position in a room. Furthermore, it may be easily removed and relocated should such be desired. The simplicity and compactness of the structure makes it relatively inexpensive. It also makesit durable and easy to clean. All of these factors make a desk unit of the type long desired for situations in which they must endure long and hard usage with a minimum of renovashowing one manner in which the panels supporting this desk unit are secured to the wall;

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view showing another means for securing the desk supporting panels to s the wall.

tion and upkeep. Examples of such uses are dormitories,

hotels, motels and other rental type installations.

These and other objects and purposes of this invention will be immediately understood by those acquainted with the design and construction of furniture and particularly of furniture for'commercial installations upon reading the following'specificationin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

'In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, plan view of this invention of one of one side of the desk, positioned midway between its two operating positions, showing the mounting structure;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the support linkage utilized in this invention; FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of'the pivot stud utilized in this invention; j A I FIG. 8 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view In executing the objects and purposes of this invention, there has been provided a desk which is supported on each side by panels. The panels themselves are supported by any suitable means such as being hung ona wall. On each side, the desk is hung upon a pair of toggles tied together by a mounting plate. The mounting plate is secured to the supporting structure. The toggles are so arranged that in one position the desk is held at an elevated or writing position and is stable since the toggles are then situated in an overcenter position. The desk has a second position in which the toggles are rotated approximately 180 degrees and again is stable because of their overcenter position. In this lowered position the desk is convenient for typing.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a vertical rigid supporting structure such as a wall (FIG. 1). Mounted on the wall are a pair of rails 11. These are vertically spaced and extend horizontally along the wall at a substantial distance from both the floor and the ceiling (FIGS. 1 and 2). The rails 11 are secured to the wall by any suitable means such as screws.

Projecting from the wall'10 are a pair of panels 12; The panels are supported on the rails 11 with both their upper and lower ends spaced from the ceiling and floor respectively. Each of the panels 12 at its upper end has a spline 13 secured to the panel by suitable means such as screws 14 (FIG. 8). At the rearward end of the panel the spline projects beyond the panel and has a slot 15 opening through one edge. The slotted end of the spline is designed to hook over and engage the anchor fitting 16 which has an outwardly projecting central section slotted at 17 to receive the spline. The anchor fitting 16 is secured to one of the rails 11 by means of screws 18 which threadedly engage the nuts '19. The nuts 19 are mounted within the rails and when the screws 18 are tightened they are pulled firmly against the inturned flanges of the rails. This structure is described in more detail in the aforementioned co-pending application entitled Storage, Serial No. 852,589, filed November 6, 1959.

. tached to the lower rail 11 by the same means as depanels 12 to the rails =11.

scribedfori attaching the spline at the upper end of the panels and as illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified means for anchoring the In this construction the same bolts 18, nuts 19 and springs 28-are used. However, the spline 13a is T-shaped and its head 29 seats against the face of the rail 11. The bolts 18 secure it to the rail 11 through holes adjacent the ends of the head. It will be recognized that other forms of attachment can be used within the scope of this invention.

Mounted between the panels 12 is a desk assembly 20 (FIG. 1). The desk assembly 20 has a top or platform 21 which, while it "may be of any suitable shape, is illustrated herein as rectangular and has a width constituting a substantial portion of the distance between the panels 12. This desk top may, be of any suitable ma terial such as plywood. It may have a wooden composi tion or synthetic resinous top finish, the Particular finish applied to it being immaterial to this invention.

The desk top is supported on each side by a support linkage 30 (FIGS. 3 and 6). Each support linkage 30 includes an L-shaped fastener plate 31, an anchor bar 32, a mounting plate 33 and a pair of toggle plates or tie means 34. The fastener plate 31 is secured beneath the desk top .20 with its depending flange generally aligned with the edge of the desk (FIG. The mounting plate 33 is designed to be secured to the adjacent panel by suitable means such as the screws 35 ('FIG. 4). The toggle, plates aregenerally triangular in shape, having a bossat each of their base corners and one at their apex. The bosses extend from both sides of the plate as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 Each of the toggle plates, at its apex, is pivotally secured to amounting plate 33, the plates being so spaced therealong that these points of attachment are substantially at opposite ends thereof.

This, attachment is made by means of a pivot stud 36'. The. detailed structure of the pivot stud is illustrated in FIG. '7. The pivot stud 36 has a pin section 36a near the free end of which is a shallow groove 37 for receiving a suitable locking fastener such as a spring wire straddlepin 38. The other end 39 of the stud is threaded. The threaded end 39 is separated from the pin section 36 by a spacer flange 40 which has a pair of flattened portions 41 on its periphery so that it may serve a, gripping point for a wrench.

The pivot stud 36 is threaded into a suitable opening in the mounting plate 33. The pin section 36a extends through an opening in the boss at the apex of a toggle plate 34; The groove 37 is exposed on the other side of the toggleplate (FIG. 5 The straddle pin 38 is then seated in the channel 37,.securing the toggle plate to the mounting plate 33., It will be noted that the toggle plates areshown, as not being symmetrical about their apex. This. aids in positioning them in overcenter position to assurethat the desk willbe stable, which will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Each of the toggle plates has its corner most remote from the apex pivotally secured to the fastener plate 31 byv a pivot stud 5.0. The pivot studs 50 are identical to the pivot studs 36. The other corners of the toggle plates 34' are. pivotally secured: to. opposite ends of the anchor bar 32'. by suitable: pivot studs 60, also. identical topivot studs 36.,

As will be seen in FIG. 5, on each side of the desk the inits raised position (FIG. 3), the anchor bars 32 are situated'well' above the pivot pins 36 and the toggle plates 34 :arerotatedto a position where the bottoms of the fastener'plates 31 are resting on the topsof the adjacent anchor bars 32. This provides a stablesupport for the desk which-Will have no tendency to jump or move ver tically or horizontally while the desk is in use. When the: desk is moved to its lowered position, the toggle plates 34' are rotated about the pivot pins- 36 until the anchor bars 32 .are situated well below the pivot pins 36. The desk top-comes to a stable lower limit position with the bottoms of the fastener plates 31 again resting on the tops: of the anchor bars 32. Again, this is a stable support; holding the desk against vertical or horizontal move ment due to activities being carried out on top of the desk. The fact thatthetoggle plates 34- arenot, symmetrical about their apexes aids in assuring that the desk top cannot shift from either of its two positions.

To assure simultaneous and equal rotation of the supportlinkages 30 on each side of the desk, the rearward toggle plates 34 are tied together by a crossbar 70. The crossbar 70 may be of any suitable construction but preferablyis tubular for economy and weight reduction. The use of this bar eliminates rocking or twisting of the desk top as it is manipulated from one position to another.

. It' will be seen that this structure provides a highly stable and simple support mechanism for the desk. It maybe manipulated to raise or lower the desk by simply rocking the toggle'plates about their pivotal attachment tothe mounting plates. In both positions the desk is stable and ispositively'locked against accidental displacement: ,At: the same time no latches, fasteners or other typewriter.

der to move the desk from either its lowered or its raised position it is necessary to lift or rotate the desk upwardly. Since such upward movement of the desk does not occur unless positive forces are applied to it, the desk cannot possibly shift from its selected position accidentally. Further, the mechanism is such that the desk panel itself is stable and is held horizontal at all times. Therefore, it may be shifted from one position to the other without removal of any items that might be resting on it, such as pencils, writing materials, books or a Further the positive contact, extending almost the full depth of the desk, between the fastener plate 31 and the anchor bar 32, assures a firm, steady, and stable support. Further, with this type support the desk may support extremely heavy loads.

The mechanism is compact and may. be shipped to the point of installation as a practically flat assembly desk. The only steps then necessary to install the desk will be to attach the mounting plates 33 to the supporting panels 12 by means of the screws 35. The structure of the desk is particularly strong and can withstand long misuse such as being used as a seat or a means to stand on so commonly experienced by equipment provided in dormitories, motels. and hotels. This assures long usage without excessive replacement or repair expenses. I

It should be understood that the adjustable desk assembly described herein is especially well adapted to cooperate with the panels 12 described herein when used in conjunction therewith. in this manner eliminates conventional supporting legs which mar the floor and make cleaning difficult. However, this adjustable desk assembly may also be used in conjunction with conventional supporting means.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be recognized that modifications to this embodiment may be madewhich incorporate the principles of this invention. Such of these modifications as incorporate the principles of this invention are to he considered as included in thehereinafterappended claims unlessthese claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

We claim:

1. Means for adjustably positioning a desk top at two operating heights comprising a support linkage operably connected between the desk top and the support therefor, the support linkage including: a pair of toggle plates, said toggle plates being generally triangular in shape with the two sides adjacent the apex being of different lengths; an anchor bear pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding first points at the corners of said toggle plates at the ends of the shorter sides; a fastener plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding second points at the corners of said toggle platesat the ends of the longer sides; said anchor bar .and said fas tener plates vertically aligned, said anchor bar lying below said fastener plate; said toggle plates pivotally secured to the desk top support at corresponding third points at the apex thereof; and said fastener plate secured to the desk top whereby rotation of said toggle plates about 'said third points varies the height of the desk top with respect to the desk top support and said fastener plate rests on said anchor bar at the two extremities of rotation of said toggle plates, the height of the desk top varying at said two positions of rest.

2. Means for adjustably positioning a desk top at two operating heights comprising a support linkage operably connected between the desk top-and the support therefor, the support linkage including: a pair of toggle plates, said toggle plates being generally triangular in shape with the two sides adjacent the apex being of dilferent lengths; an anchor bar pivotally secured to and connect ing corresponding first points at the corners of said toggle plates at the ends of the shorter sides; a fastener plate Supporting this desk assembly pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding second points at the corners of said toggle plates at the ends of the longer sides; said anchor bar and said fastener plates vertically aligned on one side of said toggle plates, said anchor bar lying below said fastener plate; a mounting plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding third points on one other side of the toggle plates at their apexes; said mounting plate fixedly secured to the desk top support; said fastener plate secured to the desk top whereby rotation of said toggle plates about said third points varies the height of the desk top with respect to the desk top support and said fastener plate rests on said anchor bar at the two extremities of rotation of said toggle plates, the height of the desk top varying at said two positions of rest.

3. Means for adjustably positioning a desk top at two operating heights, comprising; a support linkage operably connected between the side edges of the desk top and a pair of support panels mounted on a wall; each support linkage including a pair of toggle plates, said toggle plates being generally triangular in shape with the two sides adjacent the apex being of difierent lengths; an anchor bar pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding first points at the corners of said toggle plates at the ends of the shorter sides; a fastener plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding second points at the corners of said toggle plates at the ends of the longer sides; said anchor bar and said fastener plates vertically aligned on one side of said toggle plates, said anchor bar lying below said fastener plate; a mounting plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding third points on one other side of the toggle plates at their apexes; said mounting plate fixedly secured to the said panels; said fastener plate secured to the desk top whereby rotation of said toggle plates about said third points varies the height of the desk top with respect to said panels and said fastener plate rests on said anchor bar at the two extremities of rotation of said toggle plates, the height of the desk top varying at said two positions of rest; and a crossbar joining the apexes of the toggle plates nearest the back of the desk top.

4. Means for adjustably positioning a desk top at two operating heights, comprising: two panels secured to a wall, said panels being spaced one from the other; a support linkage operably connected between the desk top and said panels; said support linkage including a pair of toggle plates; an anchor bar pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding first points on said toggle plates; a fastener plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding second points on said toggle plates; said anchor bar and said fastener plates vertically aligned, said anchor bar lying below said fastener plate; said toggle plates pivotally secured to the desk top support at corresponding third points; and said fastener plate secured to the desk top whereby rotation of said toggle plates about said third points varies the height of the desk top with respect to the desk top support and-said fastener plate rests on said anchor bar at the two extremities of rotation of said toggle plates, the height of the desk top varying at said two positions of rest.

5. Means for adjustably positioning a desk top at two operating heights, comprising: two panels secured to a wall, said panels being spaced one from the other; a support linkage operably connected between the desk top and said panels; said support linkage including a pair of toggle plates; an anchor bar pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding first points on said toggle plates; a fastener plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding second points on said toggle plates; said anchor bar and said fastener plate vertically aligned on one side of said toggle plates, said anchor bar lying below said fastener plate; a mounting plate pivotally secured to and connecting corresponding third points on the other side of said toggle plates; said mounting plate fixedly secured to the desk top support; and said fastener plate secured to the desk top whereby rotation of said toggle plates about said third points varies the height of the desk top with respect to the fixed mounting plate and said fastener plate rests on said anchor bar at the two extremities of rotation of said toggle plates, the height of the desk top varying at said two positions of rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,037 Cary Mar. 1, 1892 1,188,792 Kormendy June 27, 1906 1,491,781 Axen Apr. 29, 1924 1,565,246 Axen Dec. 1-5, 1925 1,952,621 Bromley Mar. 27, 1934 1,985,620 Raphael Dec. 25, 1934 2,160,990 Sagner June 6, 1939 2,306,031 Anderson et al. Dec. 22, 1942 2,331,175 Connor et a1. Oct. 5, 1943 2,524,386 Johnston Oct. 3, 1950 2,922,685 Lappin et a1. Jan. 26, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. 3 O43,64O July 1O 1962 Charles Eames et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line l4, for "952,589" read 852,589

Signed and sealed this 11th day of December 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

